Could Cain Have Not Known China Was A Nuclear Power? A Hot Air Commenter Says No
More: In 2005 Column, Cain Notes China's Build Up Of Nuclear Technology

I'm going to quote his comment. I've tried googling to find out if this biographical sketch is accurate, but can't find anything beyond "Cain worked for the Department of the Navy as a mathematician during the Vietnam War."

Assuming this is accurate, or even mostly accurate, then Cain couldn't possibly have not known China was a nuclear power, and was just misspeaking (as usual).

Herman Cain spent the Vietnam war evaluating the capabilities of the Chinese to deliver a nuclear weapon onto the heads of our forces in South Vietnam.

He examined the test launches of the Dongfeng 1 (SS-1) and plotted out the trajectories for a 500kg warheads.

When China started testing the Dongfeng 2 (CSS-1) Cain plotted out the trajectories and capabilities of it’s delivery of 15 kiloton nuclear weapons.

Both of these missiles were provided to the PRC by the Soviets, Cain analysed data from the Russian test launches and determined the risk to U.S. troops in SE Asia.

Cain also observed the development of China’s first domestically produced missile, Dongfeng 3 (CSS-2) and plotted out it’s use with China’s 15-20KT fissile devices as well as China’s new thermonuclear devices.

Finally, Cain was involved in the determination that China’s Dongfeng 4 (CSS-3) was capable of delivering both fissile and thermonuclear devices to both Moscow and Guam as well as cover the entire deployment of U.S. forces in SE Asia.

More: Should put the baby to bed.

China's build up of nuclear, military and space technologies to rival the U.S., and its saber-rattling over Taiwan's independence, signals a commitment to more red, not green.

I don't think he meant "nuclear powered aircraft carriers." That really doesn't make sense, as the actual concern is about their aircraft carriers, period (just being built now), not about the specific capabilities of their engines.

He likely messed up the verb -- he meant "building up" or "expanding" rather than "developing."

Or he just meant "developing," but "developing" as in "building up," not developing as in "initiating" as I took it to mean.

Thanks to JimA.

posted by Ace at 11:56 AM

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